Ars mathematica

Mathematics, the fingerprint of God

Surface
Calm and cool
Resident unknown
Where do you end? or begin?

Earth, air
Knowledge, words
Where are you going?
Overboard, flickering coin

(Your methods) (and axioms) = (perfect symmetry)
Elegant and beautiful so unpredictable

Encryption key in Your hand
You have set me free
Your blood is
The proof

A dark mirror between us
Face to face I feel
Terrified
Comfort

From the new world

Columbus, arguably the greatest sailor of his time, sailed 8000 km across the Atlantic ocean four times to the same location without the knowledge of how a compass worked or an accurate map. In today's terms that would be akin to someone loading up a spaceship to travel 20,000 light years to some unknown point in the Milky Way. Or maybe it's like being sent from another dimension to some pale, blue dot in a three dimensional world. What would your reunion with the one who sent you be like?

“What have you brought?”
“My soul, safe from the new world”
"What other treasure have you brought?”
"My soul is safe… here it is Lord, take it!”
"I gave you your soul, and redeemed it. I gave you My Word and My Spirit. If that wasn't enough I would've given you more. After all your years how do you answer me? What return is there for my investment?”
“…”
"I was hungry, I was blind, I was homeless, I don’t remember you”

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. - 2 Corinthians 5:10

Lord Jesus Christ, when our bodies, our wealth and possessions are dust. May we stand before you with eternal treasure. I pray that we can look back on our short lives and see that we did something, anything to further your cause. That we shared our wealth, that we shared our faith and especially our time, amen

Tyger Tyger burning bright

The Tyger

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright,

In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies

Burnt the fire in thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?

What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, and what art?

Could twist the sinews of thy heart?

And when thy heart began to beat,

What dread hand, and what dread feet?

What the hammer? What the chain?

In what furnace was thy brain?

What the anvil? What dread grasp

Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,

And watered heaven with their tears,

Did he smile his work to see?

Did he who made the Lamb, make thee?

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright,

In the forests of the night,

What immortal hand or eye

Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

- William Blake

How do you picture God? Do you imagine Him as being like your earthly father? Or your best friend? It's true God loves us and is closer than a brother but I suggest remembering He's dangerous as well.

The poem "The Tyger" by William Blake asks the question, what kind of God would build such a terrifying creature? The same God that created the gentle lamb formed the fearful Tiger. Deadly and beautiful. The same God that created the playful dolphin created the Great White shark. A creature apparently made for only two purposes... pursuit and killing. Deadly, and I would argue beautiful as well.

And the Anglerfish, nightmare of the deep... Deadly? Likely. Beautiful? Umm... not so much.

The same God that commands the Angel of death sent His only Son as a sacrificial lamb for our sins. I am at once comforted and afraid.

"As the Creator, God shapes and fashions and brings bare being into form - a form which is truly reflective of the One who fashions it. And when God is finished with this process what He has made speaks of the God who made it." - Genesis in space and time, Francis Schaeffer

It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God - Hebrews 10:31

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8

The saints are coming

There is a house in New Orleans, they call the Rising Sun
It's been the ruin of many a poor boy, and God, I know I'm one.

I cried to my daddy on the telephone, how long now?
Until the clouds unroll and you come home, the line went.
But the shadows still remain since your descent, your descent.

The saints are coming, the saints are coming.
I say no matter how I try, I realise there's no reply.
The saints are coming, the saints are coming.
I say no matter how I try, I realise there's no reply.

A drowning sorrow floods the deepest grief, how long now?
Until the weather change condemns belief, how long now?
When the night watchman lets in the thief Whats wrong now?

The saints are coming, the saints are coming
I say no matter how I try, I realise there's no reply.
The saints are coming, the saints are coming
I say no matter how I try, I realise there's no reply.

This video is a criticism of President Bush's response to the New Orlean's disaster and the media's portrayal of the response. After Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans descended into chaos. Police officers and emergency crews had to choose some people to save and to watch others die. Some committed suicide when this burden became too heavy. The government could've done more but the military, including 25% of the Louisiana National Guard which normally is called in during times of emergency, was fighting in Iraq.

How great it would've been if the might of the US military machine had been turned towards this cause as shown in this video. What an effect it would've had restoring order and delivering much needed help. Instead, as I watch the fantasy Harriers, Apaches and B2 Spirits in the video I'm left with a feeling of what could've been... You may blame the government, President Bush, the media or, like the author of the song, maybe even God but I think it's important to realise that the same thing is happening today and we are to blame.

Canada, Europe and the US are fighting a war to save "Mother Earth" and we're ignoring the dying world around us. To the point where even food is being diverted to Biofuel so that we can keep our precious cars on the road and feel good that we're "saving the environment". Now World Vision is reporting that as food prices soar they can't afford to feed seven million people that they were previously helping. Seven million people! If that doesn't horrify you I would be worried.

Everywhere I go I see "green products" geared towards "green consumers", I wonder how many people would spend all their energy fighting the green cause if they had to watch their child slowly starve to death. Next time you see something "green" or "eco" or "earth-friendly" try to think of the last time you saw anything that suggested we should do anything for the starving poor in the world.

Don't wait.